this river, I have enjoyed the advantages of both educational systems. I have been laid low under the hazel and have writhed under the stimulating influences of the birchrod. The hazel has its advantages, but for classical education the birch always has been preferred. In fact, I consider this tree indispensable; and, furthermore, I am convinced that without its demonstrations a posteriori nobody ever can master the irregular verbs. To me it always was one of the inexplicable mysteries of ancient history how, without the assistance of this useful tree, the Romans ever could have learned Latin. It is evident, however, that in the essential points their method of imparting knowledge did not differ materially from ours; the name of their celebrated and still consulted lawbook, Podex Justinianæus, is one of the many proofs of this circum

stance.

There arises now the question which plant will be the emblem and promoter of the civilization springing up from this new

center on the Pacific, of this literature born in our midst, whose juvenile pranks and freaks we are enjoying so frequently in these rooms, and whose manly strength and power we like to paint in anticipation. The coniferous trees of our mountains do not yield educational material. The ruling vegetation of our plains is tarweed and wild mustard. The tarweed is quite out of the question, for it has no civilizing power. As to the wild mustard, its substance is too brittle to produce any impression on the organs by which we influence the juvenile mind. It is not the raw material, not the body of the mustard which acts on the human mind; no, it is its soul which acts on the human soul. By careful and judicious experimenting, the celebrated pedagogue, McCracken Bungletoe, has demonstrated how the most beneficial results may be obtained by squeezing the seeds of the mustard plant, adding warm water, and applying the mass obtained in this way on the same region of the human body on which, accord

MOST GRACIOUS SIRE AND DEARLY BELOVED BOHEMIAN BRETHREN: Through the whole year I have looked forward to this day. I have collected most carefully every fact connected with Bohemian progress and goodness, and now I am here to give you all the important discoveries of our last year. It is true the new vice so long sought for is not yet discovered, but that is not my fault, nor is it owing to the neglect of any other member of this organization. On the other hand, we have made the most astonishing progress in immoral philosophy.

You all recollect the important discovery made by our brother Daniel O'Connell, who, having found out that the present system by which everybody confesses his own